Can bacteria-eating viruses be used to fight superbugs?
Phages are viruses that only infect bacteria. How might they help us tackle antimicrobial resistance? Franklin Nobrega and Esme Brinsden from the University of Southampton explain how their citizen science project that collects samples from around the globe is building a library of these bacteria-fighting viruses. How can ultrasound find new targets to treat apathy in Parkinson’s disease? Tom Gilbertson and Isla Barnard from the University of Dundee explain all. Also on the show, EntangleCam is using quantum physics to improve what we can see inside the human body and how breast cancer is diagnosed. Plus, surgical gloves with special sensors that improve precision and sensitivity in obstetrics and surgery. Carmen Fernadez fills us in on the engineering behind them and Dawn Parris tells us about her research into their use in practice. Join us for a special episode of Health Check from The Royal Society’s annual Summer Science Exhibition in London. Claudia Hammond is joined by BBC health and science correspondent James Gallagher to take a look and compete in scientific games to see who this year’s champion is. Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant Producer: Katie Tomsett
Studio Manager: Phil Lander
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Childhood vaccination coverage stalls worldwide
There has been immense progress on childhood vaccination since 1974, with over four billion children vaccinated worldwide. So why now are we seeing vaccination rates stall, and decline? We look at what is driving this stagnation that is putting millions of children at risk. The psychological impacts of war can persist for long after the events themselves. Reporter Stephanie Tam talks to the therapists aiming to break cycles of intergenerational trauma in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Being diagnosed with ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome, can be a long process that requires ruling out other conditions first, we discover how researchers are working towards identifying blood biomarkers of chronic fatigue syndrome. Also, on the show we hear from Dr Adele Goman who has unexpectedly found hearing interventions reduce the risk of falling. Finally, Dr Phil Silva the founder of the Dunedin Study has died. We take a look at some of the key achievements of this landmark study that has been running for half a century. It follows the same group of almost 1000 people, all born within 12 months of each other in the early 1970s. Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Katie Tomsett & Hannah Robins
Studio Manager: Sue Maillot(Image: Doctor injecting a vaccine. Credit: Karl Tapales via Getty Images)
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Future thinking
Thinking about the future comes so naturally to most people that we do not realise what a complicated and essential skill it is. Claudia Hammond and an expert panel of psychologists look into our ability to mentally travel to the future. Catherine Loveday, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Westminster, explains how our ability to mentally time travel into the future is useful for everyday tasks as well as fundamental to shaping our identity. Daryl O’Connor, professor of psychology at the University of Leeds, discusses how thinking about the future motivates us in the present. And Peter Olusoga, senior lecturer in psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, describes how professional sportspeople use visualisation and future thinking to improve sporting success.Together they discuss how we hold ideas of the future in mind, whether unbounded optimism is the best way ahead – or not, and how to science-proof our goal setting and future planning. If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, including urgent support, details of health available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide at befrienders.org. Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Lorna Stewart
Sound engineer: Emma Harth and Sue Maillot
Production co-ordinators: Siobhan Maguire and Andrew Rhys Lewis
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Mpox surging in Sierra Leone
As mpox cases rise in Sierra Leone, we check-in with Professor Trudie Lang to understand the implications of the continuing spread of the disease and what progress is being made in responding to the outbreak. In a breakthrough for HIV research, scientists have used mRNA to reveal the virus hiding in white blood cells. For now, it is only in a laboratory setting, but they hope this could lead to future treatment pathways that clear HIV from the body. Also on the show we take a look at healthy ageing; from the role of power in living longer, to reducing the risk of dementia in younger generations, and even the influence of daily cups of coffee on our health as we get older. Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Katie Tomsett and Louise Orchard
Studio Managers: Dyfan Rose and Sue Maillot(Photo: Digitally generated image of virus cells of mpox infection. Credit: Getty Images)
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Exercise and immunotherapy improving cancer outcomes
A new immunotherapy regime has shown significant improvements in treatment for head and neck cancer. Meanwhile, exercise is boosting outcomes for colon cancer patients. BBC journalist Philippa Roxby explains what’s been shown in these studies.Aflatoxins are a toxin produced by a fungi which can be found in crops. They’re having a severe impact on harvests and health including immune suppression, growth stunting and damage to the liver. The BBC’s Sophie Ormiston reports on what’s being done to tackle the problem.Ultra-processed foods are increasingly seen as bad for us and self-reporting our diets can be very inaccurate. But now, a new urine test has found a way to accurately show how much of these kinds of foods we consume. Finally, can an e-tattoo placed on the forehead effectively monitor stress and concentration? And how might such a device be used?Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins and Louise Orchard
New Zealand